Leslie- I loved this post. You are one cool cat.
:) Wendy --- Leslie <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Kayte, > My first FeLV+ cat was also the first cat that I > ever owned on my own. I'd > grown up with all sorts of critters, but it took a > few years after > graduating college to finally get in a situation > where I could own my first > "all mine" pet. I'd been wanting this cat forever. > > I found Sushi at a shelter, she was 2 years old and > demanded that I take her > home that very instant. I L-O-V-E-D that cat. The > shelter had tested for > leukemia and FIV before I adopted her and she'd > tested negative. One month > after having her home, she was very lethargic. I > ran with her in a carrier > to a vet that I'd seen near my apartment, but I'd > never met. This was New > York City (Queens), so not having a car, and not > wanting to subject a cat to > a subway ride, I was pretty limited in my vet > choices. The vet was an ass. > He had no bedside manner. He made me feel like the > whole situation was my > fault. He'd HAVE to rehydrate, he'd HAVE to do > bloodwork, he'd HAVE to keep > her during the day - like I wasn't going to be > paying him for his efforts. > I was in tears, which didn't make him respect me any > more. Quite frankly, > he scared the hell out of me, and as it's all of our > deepest fears that it > really IS our fault, I was a mess. He retested her > for FeLV+ (she'd been > rescued from a house full of cats, so may have been > exposed close to rescue > and the first testing). I took her home as she'd > perked back up, the fluids > really helped, and she rebounded fully. Despite > this, when he called to > tell me that she was positive and anemic and had > "maybe" a month to live, > told me to expect to see rapid deterioration, blah, > blah, blah, I was again > distraught. The next week, against the back drop of > her romping around and > talking to herself, chasing bits of dust, knocking > things over (her favorite > was to knock my glass of water onto me at night), > trying to escape, I called > everyone that I knew hysterically telling them that > my cat was dying. The > vet said so. > > Eventually, emotionally spent. I hung up the phone, > slumped down against > the wall and lethargically, tearfully gazed over at > her across the room. > Making eye contact, she marched over and placed a > World Cup worthy head butt > against my pathetic forehead. I giggled. > > And I realized that I was being a dumass. Maybe she > had this disease. > Maybe she was dying, but who of us isn't? She > wasn't dead, and I was > wasting time being a melodramatic human. So instead > of focusing on how she > was going to die, I focused on how she was going to > live. I didn't have any > support, but I found a raw feeding list and, though > I didn't switch to raw > for a while, I started researching the feline diet. > And I put her on a > better food. And I moved into the city and found a > good vet. I took her in > for check-ups and loved the heck out of that cat > until she passed two years > after I'd adopted her of a heart attack (myocardial > infarction). Yes, my > life infarcted at that point, and I still miss my > sweet marshmallow-y > friend, who would lay on my arm at night and purr, > and gaze into my eyes > like she was proud of me. But she'd led me to > another positive cat to > adopt, Hepburn. And Hepburn led me to Satchmo that > I have today (also > positive). And Sushi, after all, after all that > that jerk vet said, never > did deterioriate. Never did succomb to the > leukemia. > > I owned Hep for 2 1/2 years, she did die of FIP, > which was probably leukemia > related, but I'd gotten her as an older kitten, so > even there, she was on > the high end of her life expectency and she, too, > was an amazing, happy, > healthy cat until the end. > > Satch I've had for two years now, I adopted him at 5 > years old, so we don't > know when he was exposed to the virus, but he's the > biggest, stompiest guy > you'll ever have the pleasure of meeting, and other > than being susceptible > to URI's (which as long as I don't bring home sick > kittens that already have > URI's) hasn't been any problem. I have high hopes > for him going a very long > time. And I'm thinking of adopting him a friend - > either a positive kitten > or a negative adult cat - once he stops coughing. > > I know that this has been long, and work is piling > up, but I just wanted to > tell you my story. Let you know that I understand > what you're feeling, but > take your cues from Crackers. Is he laying around > in dirty pajamas, > watching Ricki Lake, stumbling amongst empty Chinese > take out cartons, > wondering "why me?" This is a terrible illness, but > not one that is > powerful enough to take the good times away while > they are here. > > Get a new vet. Pinpoint when Crackers was exposed. > What happened to > Pokemon? Was she positive? Put Crackers on a good > diet - there are lots to > choose from ranging from Max Cat to raw feeding - > expensive doesn't always > mean good, nor does the fact of it being sold out of > a vet's office. Do > some reading about which ingredients should be there > and which shouldn't. A > lot of people supplement, again anywhere from > Vitamin C to ImmunoReglin. > There is no one path to follow, just make sure that > you and Crackers are > happy on the one that you choose. > > Good luck to you both, > Leslie > > > > Date: Tue, 5 Sep 2006 16:41:09 EDT > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Subject: crackers IFA was positive need help > a.s.a.p. > > To: [email protected] > > Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > > > after i called the vet over 20 times he finally > answered and said yes > > crackers IFA is positive....i asked him can he > throw the virus...the vet > > said no > > the IFA confirms he is full blown luekemia...i > said what should i do,...he > > said > > there is nothing to do...my baby crackers is 5yrs > old and has never been > > sick > > ever with anything and I WONT GIVE UP!!!...i cant > believe this vet..MAKE > > THAT MY EX VET...i am looking for another vet and > will not go back to > > him...ok > > you wonderful people are my guardians..i will do > anything > > suggested..money is > > not a factor when it comes to my baby...i will do > anything please respond > > please is this IFA final or should i retest? > > kayte > > > __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? 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